NEWARK, N.J. - A man accused of pointing a laser at
an airplane, temporarily blinding the pilot and co-pilot, was indicted Wednesday
under an anti-terror law.

David W. Banach also was accused of lying to the FBI
about the Dec. 29 incident, in which a small passenger jet's windshield
and cabin were hit three times by a green laser as the plane readied to
land at Teterboro Airport.

The charges in the three-count federal indictment were
similar to those filed against Banach in a complaint by the FBI in January.
The indictment, handed up by a grand jury in Newark, replaces the FBI complaint.

Banach's lawyer, Gina Mendola-Longarzo, said her client
was using the laser to look at stars with his daughter when the plane was
hit by the beam.

"We take the alleged actions of Mr. Banach very
seriously, and we will not condone lying to federal agents," U.S. Attorney
Christopher J. Christie said in a statement.

A cluster of reports of lasers striking airplanes received
wide attention between Christmas and New Year's Day, and prompted Transportation
Secretary Norman Mineta to make changes in how pilots report lasers being
beamed at airplanes. He also warned that federal officials will aggressively
prosecute those caught shining the bright beams into cockpits.

Banach, 38, of Parsippany, remains free on bond pending
arraignment, which has not yet been scheduled, his lawyer said.

He faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine
on one count of interference with pilots of an aircraft "with reckless
disregard for the safety of human life," a provision of the USA Patriot
Act passed following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

He also was charged with two counts of making false
statements to law officers, each of which carries up to five years in prison
and a $250,000 fine.

Prosecutors said Banach, after repeatedly lying to
authorities about the incident, finally admitted Jan. 1 that he pointed
the laser at the plane.

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